Eighth
Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity (COP-8)

20-31
March 2006| Curitiba, Brazil

Highlights for Tuesday,
21 March 2006

Delegates to the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP-8) met in two working groups throughout the day. Working Group I (WG-I) addressed island biodiversity, dry and sub-humid land biodiversity, and the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI). Working Group II (WG-II) initiated discussions on access and benefit-sharing (ABS).

Above photos: View of the packed Working Group II session
on ABS; Kids for Forests hour glass.

WORKING
GROUP I:

ISLAND BIODIVERSITY:

The Secretariat introduced documents on island biodiversity
and the SBSTTA-10 report .

Many delegates strongly encouraged the adoption of the work programme on island biodiversity.

The
PHILIPPINES and others called for allocation of adequate financial resources for implementation of the work
programme.

Above photo: Teresita Samson Castillo (The
Philippines)

CANADA stressed the importance of
Arctic island biodiversity and full participation of indigenous and local communities through integrative national
programmes.

Above photo: Richard Laing (Canada)

GHANA said that the work programme could help protect island biodiversity from the potential threats of avian flu.

Above photo: Alfred Oteng Yeboah (Ghana)

The
MALDIVES encouraged consideration of the special needs and circumstances of SIDS.

Above photo: Ahmed Saleem (Maldives)

THAILAND highlighted the collaboration between the CBD and the Ramsar Convention.

Above photo: Anuwat Nateewathana (Thailand)

On a global target relating to international trade and island biodiversity, ICELAND suggested deleting reference to sustainable use of wild flora and fauna on islands, noting that CITES has not agreed on the term
"sustainable use."

Above photo: Gudrun Eyjolfsdottir (Iceland)

GLOBAL TAXONOMY INITIATIVE:

PALAU
supported text on GEF financial support for GTI activities.

Above photo: Joel Miles (Palau)

The
REPUBLIC OF KOREA stressed the importance of taxonomic needs assessment in each country.

Above photo: Hae-wook Cheung (Republic of
Korea)

The
GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION FACILITY reported on
its work regarding taxonomic data dissemination and
capacity building.

Above photo: Jim Edwards and Beatriz Torres
(GBIF)

WORKING GROUP
II:

ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING:
Process for developing an international regime

CANADA expressed commitment to considering various options through expert meetings and at least one session of the ABS Working Group.

Above photo: Timothy Hodges (Canada)

The EU and COLOMBIA suggested that the meetings be funded from the core budget.

NORWAY, supported by others, requested the COP to convene an intergovernmental negotiating body with its own Chair and Bureau, indigenous participation
and a timetable for concluding negotiations by COP-9.

Above photo: Birthe Ivars (Norway)

Elements of the certificate:

MEXICO noted that the list of potential elements of the
certificate of origin/source/legal provenance is useful in identifying the necessary expertise for the
proposed Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG).

Above photo: Jose Carlos Fernandez and Mariana
Bellot Rojas (Mexico)

MALAYSIA
favored removing brackets, considering the list a useful reference for the AHTEG in developing options for model provisions on disclosure requirements.

Above photo: Gurdial Singh (Malaysia)

WG-II Chair
Sem Shikongo (Namibia) established an informal group for consultations
on the issue.